TASMANIAN racehorse owners, trainers and breeders have united over concerns the industry could lose participants and investment unless more race meeting are programmed.

Opposition racing spokesman and Devonport Racing Club patron Jeremy Rockliff has met with frustrated trainers, breeders and owners whose horses were being balloted out of races every weekend and fear investment in the industry could drop off significantly as a result.

Speaking at the Spreyton Park Racecourse yesterday, Mr Rockliff said recent increases in stakes money combined with the success of the Magic Millions yearling sale, had resulted in a situation where there were too many racehorses in Tasmania and not enough races.

"On the surface, the industry looks healthy, but in reality it is nearing a crisis situation and unless something is done, the gains made in recent years will be lost," he said.

"We have trainers and owners who cannot get runs for their horses who have been in work for many months."

"No-one wants to invest in a horse and pay training fees of $1500 a month if they're never going to see it race."

Mr Rockliff said the situation would worsen in spring when more horses became available for racing.

This Sunday's race meeting at Elwick (in Hobart) received 139 nominations, of which 58 horses were balloted out.

Mr Rockliff urged Racing Minister Michael Aird and TOTE Tasmania to immediately canvass the introduction of an additional mid-week meeting every two weeks to alleviate the problem.

He said additional resources should also be allocated to track maintenance to ensure tracks are able to sustain the additional meeting.

Mr Rockliff also suggested reallocation of some existing stakes money, or provision of additional stakes money, could fund the extra meeting.

"If this issue is not acted upon, it will have a very serious and detrimental effect on the thoroughbred racing industry in Tasmania," he said.

Racing Minister Michael Aird said the allocation of race meetings was an operational matter for TOTE Tasmania.

Concerned trainers were due to meet at Longford last night and will hold a further meeting with TOTE Tasmania tomorrow.

While acknowledging the Tasmanian racing industry had an unprecedented number of horses, TOTE Tasmania manager of racing events Brett Williams said no more meetings would be scheduled for the 2008-09 season.

"There's no extra funding available, all our Sky Channel coverage slots have been taken and there's no guarantee Tasmanian tracks would be able to cope with the extra load," he said.